Charity flea market draws crowds

Customers check out second-hand handicrafts at the Charity Flea Market which features clothes, accessories, home wares, books and CDs. (Photo/Agencies)

Keep it or dump it? It's always a question for Gao Liyan, a 38-year-old housewife, whose closet is filled with garments she made herself, from coats to sweaters.

"I like making clothes at home, but it's annoying when there's no place to keep them. My friends suggested I go to a flea market to sell or trade them," Gao says.

So last weekend (January 12-13) she participated in the Charity Flea Market for the first time.

Flea markets featuring second-hand clothes, accessories, home wares, books and CDs are becoming popular in Shanghai, especially among young people who look for creative items. The venues include low-rent restaurants, creative hubs in old factories and shopping malls.

The Charity Flea Market (公益家) is one of the city's largest markets for handicrafts, attracting locals and expats interested in charity, art design, hand-made crafts, recycling and environmental protection.

The flea market, which started in 2008, is usually held once or twice on weekends each month. It moved from a small restaurant on Nanjiing Road E. to 1933 Old Millfun and other creative parks. Now it operates at Shengyuan Plaza in Zhabei District and the next gathering is February 2 and 3.

Ni calls herself a "flea market-holic." She first bought two pairs of earrings made of old porcelain at Liang Weimei's stall at the Charity Flea Market in Shengyuan Plaza.

Guangxi-native Liang designs and makes her own products and has been a regular charity market stall owner for three years since 2010 at 1933 Old Millfun. Today the 25-year-old runs two stalls, one selling scarves, gloves and hats, the other handicrafts, jewelry and small toys made of china from Jingdezhen, regarded as "China's capital of china ware" in Jiangxi Province.

Her DIY accessories cost from 20 to 70 yuan (US$3-US$11), and she earned 300 yuan in one hour on the first day of market last weekend. Daily turnover was around 1,000 yuan.

"The success of the first event surprised me and inspired me to continue this meaningful action," says Zhang Lanlan, the 32-year-old founder of the Charity Flea Market.

She came up with the idea in 2008, while she was working in a Japanese company and volunteering to teach English at a primary school for migrant children in Minhang District.

Japanese have a culture of flea markets and buying and selling second-hand items for recycling and charity. Zhang's Japanese friends inspired her to start her own flea market.

The first Charity Flea Market in November 2008 was relatively small, with only 30 stalls and 500 visitors at a restaurant on Nanjing Road E. It drew Zhang's friends, Japanese colleagues and expats who learned about it from the Internet.

The next year the market moved to 1933 Old Millfun on Shajing Road in the North Bund area.

Through those social network websites like Douban, the flea market became popular, especially among young women who like fashionable and interesting items.

Zhang has quit her job and now devotes all her time and energy to the charity flea market in which she has five regular partners. Many college students who visited the market have become volunteers.

Tan Yue is a university senior majoring in finance and working as an intern at an insurance company. She used to volunteer and help out the organizers. Now she minds stalls.

"Taking part in these activities is a good opportunity for students to get to know the larger society and help us prepare for life after graduation," says Tan. Making friends is a plus.

All profit is donated to the primary school for migrant children in Minhang District to build a library and sometimes buy eggs for them. The market also donates winter shoes and clothes and buys eggs for the pupils in Shanghai and other towns.

The market cooperates with other charity organizations too.

"It's very meaningful that our charity flea market can attract other charity organizations to join in. Collaborating, sharing some resources and information gives us more energy to help people in need," Zhang says.

Established in 2007, Xingeng helps underprivileged people with physical and mental disabilities. It operates a workshop where people learn to make handicrafts, which are sold, says Li Fangfang, a 22-year-old Henan Province native who has been working for the organization for two months.

"It (Charity Flea Market) is a good platform for us to exchange ideas and help needy people," says Li.

Since it started four years ago, the Charity Flea Market also attracts middle-aged people who want to save money on second-hand products.

"We hope flea market culture will be accepted by more people who support recycling and charity," founder Zhang says.

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